Features

Ethan: Club On The Up

PUBLISHED

09:57 5th March 2014

Defender ready to push for place

These are exciting times and it feels like this is a club on the up again and I’d love to be a part of it"

Ethan Ebanks-Landell

A glance at the array of Academy team photographs situated on the lead-up to the offices at the Compton training ground offers the intriguing chance to chart the pictorial progress of now 21-year-old defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell.

Having been with the club since Under-8 level, Ebanks-Landell has certainly seen plenty of ups and downs from the outside as he has emerged through the ranks.

But now, having signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until at least the summer of 2016, the big defender is hoping to be part of a hugely positive period at Molineux.

“I am very happy to have extended my contract and very happy to continue my stay at the club where I have been since I was at Under 8 level,” he says.

“I was out of contract at the end of the season and felt I was doing well so it was good to hear that the club wanted to keep me here.

“I feel I am in amongst it now in terms of the first team squad and that young players are being given a chance.

“Pricey (Jack Price) was with me from the Under-8s level and it’s been great to see him getting a chance and doing so well week-in week-out.

“These are exciting times and it feels like this is a club on the up again and I’d love to be a part of it.”

Ebanks-Landell may only have made eight appearances so far this season, but that has more to do with the form of those currently occupying the defensive position than anything to do with his own performances.

Indeed he has impressed, also chipping in with two vital goals and building on the solid foundations of 26 loan appearances – also in Sky Bet League One – with Bury last season.

“It has been important for me to break through and get some first team football and that’s what I’d been wanting to do since I first started here as a kid,” he says.

“I’ve probably not played as much regular football as I might have hoped having played in the league for Bury last season.

“I learned a lot last year during my loan at Bury and picked up a lot of confidence from getting regular football.

“No disrespect to Bury but I think being back at Wolves it was always going to be more difficult to be playing every game but in the chances I have had the quality of the players alongside me has made it easy to settle in.

“But there are some very good players here and the competition is at a different level.

“We’ve got the best defence in the league and the team are at the top of the league and so it’s no surprise it’s difficult to get in the team.

“I’ve just got to bide my time and wait my chance and take it when it comes along.

“There are some good players not involved at the moment like Doc and George and it’s all about being ready to be called upon when needed.”

Ebanks-Landell has played most of his football coming through the ranks as a centre back.

But it is at right back where he has figured so far this season, from where he has popped up with those goals against Notts County and Leyton Orient.

“I have enjoyed playing both at right back and centre back,” he says.

“Obviously everyone loves scoring a goal and I’ve scored a couple from the right back position which is good.

“But I wouldn’t say I have a favourite position and am just happy to play.”